Types involved in Suez
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Types involved in Suez
There was a fascinating documentary on BBC 4 last night about the Suez crisis. The focus was on the political goings on around the crisis, but brief mention was made of the air campaign.
What types were involved in suez? There were brief clips of:
Sea Hawk
Hunter
Vampire/Venom
Valiant
Supermarine swift
Is the swift misplaced in this list? I was under the impression that early marks of the swift were a bit of a flop. Would they have seen action in Suez?
What types were involved in suez? There were brief clips of:
Sea Hawk
Hunter
Vampire/Venom
Valiant
Supermarine swift
Is the swift misplaced in this list? I was under the impression that early marks of the swift were a bit of a flop. Would they have seen action in Suez?
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The F1's were a flop and no way did they particpate at Suez.
Only 56 squadron at Waterbeach were equiped them and then with several limitations on their use.
After a number of accidents and all sorts of problems with serviceability they were withdrawn from service after about a year.
Havn't seen the program you refer to but did they mention the Canberra ?, quite a few used in that campaign.
Only 56 squadron at Waterbeach were equiped them and then with several limitations on their use.
After a number of accidents and all sorts of problems with serviceability they were withdrawn from service after about a year.
Havn't seen the program you refer to but did they mention the Canberra ?, quite a few used in that campaign.
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canberra, yes. I knew there was one I had forgotten.
They probably just got some stock footage of fities RAF/RN jets and stuck it in there.
Edit: the prog is called
The other side...of the Suez crisis.
They probably just got some stock footage of fities RAF/RN jets and stuck it in there.
Edit: the prog is called
The other side...of the Suez crisis.
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they failed to put the airfield out of action, which was their primary objective.
The runway was sunsequently destroyed by the Egyptian engineers to deny the Brits the use of it.
The Egyptians were using Meteor NF13's. What else did they have?
The runway was sunsequently destroyed by the Egyptian engineers to deny the Brits the use of it.
The Egyptians were using Meteor NF13's. What else did they have?
Last edited by noisy; 24th Jun 2004 at 12:22.
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Full (?) list here:
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/suez/Aircraft.html
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/suez/Aircraft.html
Gentleman Aviator
Seem to remember an old pilot in my youth talking about RAF Sabres at Suez.
And there was the (in them days) well-known story that Cairo had left their NDB switched on, which made the bomber navigators' jobs a bit easier!!
And there was the (in them days) well-known story that Cairo had left their NDB switched on, which made the bomber navigators' jobs a bit easier!!
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I was a goggle-eyed 7-y-o at the time, living in married quarters at RAF Nicosia. I remember the E-W "reserve" runway being wing-tip to wing-tip with aircraft.
I am surprised to see no mention of the Blackburn Beverley on the list, also the Fairey Gannet. I am sure they were used in some role, at the time. There were some French aircraft there at times, possibly Mysteres or Corsairs. There were also large numbers of something called a "boxcar", but I forget where they came from, possibly also French.
Nicosia also possessed a Beaufighter at the time (seriously), but I am sure this did not take part, although the Israelis are thought to have used Mosquitos, Mustangs and Spitfires during their campaign!! There may also have been some participation from the Army's Austers, if I remember, not frontline!.
It must have been very difficult for the "allied" Air Forces to distinguish between the Meteors and Vampires on each side! From a quick read this morning, I am reminded that the US did their level best to upset eveything by flying regular sorties over the British fleet and Cyprus, without notice, thus requiring a number of scrambles to investigate.
Noisy these were the egyptian aircraft.
I am surprised to see no mention of the Blackburn Beverley on the list, also the Fairey Gannet. I am sure they were used in some role, at the time. There were some French aircraft there at times, possibly Mysteres or Corsairs. There were also large numbers of something called a "boxcar", but I forget where they came from, possibly also French.
Nicosia also possessed a Beaufighter at the time (seriously), but I am sure this did not take part, although the Israelis are thought to have used Mosquitos, Mustangs and Spitfires during their campaign!! There may also have been some participation from the Army's Austers, if I remember, not frontline!.
It must have been very difficult for the "allied" Air Forces to distinguish between the Meteors and Vampires on each side! From a quick read this morning, I am reminded that the US did their level best to upset eveything by flying regular sorties over the British fleet and Cyprus, without notice, thus requiring a number of scrambles to investigate.
Noisy these were the egyptian aircraft.
Last edited by newswatcher; 25th Jun 2004 at 13:22.
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something called a "boxcar", but I forget where they came from, possibly also French
I have seen references to French F-86s but found no confirmation, although they definitely used F-84s.
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Not really of 'types' - but I know of a mate who sells great SPACE models that was the first Para to jump out of a Valetta (I think that was the type) over Suez, got entangled in a palm tree with lead buzzing around him; and then had a mention in some book or other wherein his officer bollocked him for not getting on with the war --------
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As a Shack driver at the time I can assure that Shacks were involved, trooping at first,33 pongos packed in, then later doing anti-sub patrols around the carriers. The Corsairs from the French carrier were a pain in the backside, always wanted to play.
I was about 6 in the take off queue at Nicosia when the brave Canberra mate lined up on the runway then pulled his legs up 'cos he didn't want to go, chaos like you wouldn't believe!!
I was about 6 in the take off queue at Nicosia when the brave Canberra mate lined up on the runway then pulled his legs up 'cos he didn't want to go, chaos like you wouldn't believe!!
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PaperTiger, thanks for the info.
shack, this account has lots of info. It says that a Canberra pilot was court-martialled, for damaging his aircraft whilst taking off from Malta. Were there two incidents?
shack, this account has lots of info. It says that a Canberra pilot was court-martialled, for damaging his aircraft whilst taking off from Malta. Were there two incidents?
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Newswatcher as I remember it was Nicosia, as the excellent report you indicated says many times the Canberras were based at Nic for the "war"!!! I remember that 39 were at Luqa but I do not think the incident happened there,unfortunately my log books were lost in a house move so I cannot confirm.
Having said that I and the rest of the Shack fleet did not know where we were for most of the time, we would start from the UK with a crew of 6 and 33 pongoes or ground crew, fly to Luqa Malta which would take about six hours, the aircraft would be refuelled there as we were not allowed to refuel in Cyprus, fly the leg to Nicosia,another six hours then twelve hours off. After your twelve hours take the next available aircraft back to the UK ie. another twelve hours flying, then the same thing again. After a few trips you did not know whether you were coming or going!!!
The days around the carriers were after the build up had finished, reading your article reminded me of what a pain in the a**e our American "friends" were and of some of the stupid things they did with their carriers, submarines and aircraft trying to disrupt the proceedings. There had been a warning of an Egyptian submarine being around so we were carrying,on our patrols around the carriers,a bomb bay full of depth charges...............then some American plonker drives his submarine into the middle of the carriers.............lucky he did not get more than he bargained for.
Makes me realise how old I am when I think this all happened nearly 50 years ago.
Having said that I and the rest of the Shack fleet did not know where we were for most of the time, we would start from the UK with a crew of 6 and 33 pongoes or ground crew, fly to Luqa Malta which would take about six hours, the aircraft would be refuelled there as we were not allowed to refuel in Cyprus, fly the leg to Nicosia,another six hours then twelve hours off. After your twelve hours take the next available aircraft back to the UK ie. another twelve hours flying, then the same thing again. After a few trips you did not know whether you were coming or going!!!
The days around the carriers were after the build up had finished, reading your article reminded me of what a pain in the a**e our American "friends" were and of some of the stupid things they did with their carriers, submarines and aircraft trying to disrupt the proceedings. There had been a warning of an Egyptian submarine being around so we were carrying,on our patrols around the carriers,a bomb bay full of depth charges...............then some American plonker drives his submarine into the middle of the carriers.............lucky he did not get more than he bargained for.
Makes me realise how old I am when I think this all happened nearly 50 years ago.
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noisy, you may not have had the time to read the account within the link I posted, but here is a relevant extract:
The Avengers from Arromanches then detected the USN submarine USS Cutlass in the middle of the French task force, and forced it to surface.
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The regiment I was in was put on call to go to Suez. Accordingly I was called off my annual leave and had to pack my bags in a hurry. As the 'war' was over so quickly the regiment never went and I missed out on the rest of my leave.
Some years later when I was in the RN, I met a pilot, Lt Mills, who was reputed to be the only person shot down in Suez in a Sea Hawk by a rifle bullet hitting some sensitive part of the engine.
Some years later when I was in the RN, I met a pilot, Lt Mills, who was reputed to be the only person shot down in Suez in a Sea Hawk by a rifle bullet hitting some sensitive part of the engine.
Last edited by Nigel Osborn; 30th Jun 2004 at 05:07.